Winnebago County Organization

County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Winnebago County are kept, see the Winnebago County Courthouse page.

Historical Facts

Winnebago County is named for the Winnebago Indians who once inhabited that part of Illinois

Parent County

1836--Winnebago County was created 16 January 1836 from Jo Daviess County. County seat: Rockford [1]

Boundary Changes

Record Loss

Places / Localities

Populated Places

Neighboring Counties

Records and Resources

Biographies

The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Winnebago County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Winnebago County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

Cemeteries

Illinois cemetery records often identify birth, death, relationship, and military information, as well as religious affiliation.

Illinois Cemeteries page provides explanations of the following online Winnebago County resources:

1800s-Present - Use the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land Patent Index to obtain original federal land transfer records including homestead, military warrants, and cash entry patents. These records help a research establish location and lead to National Archives' records which may include genealogical information. Earlier land transfer records are housed at the National Archives.

Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)

Family Maps of Winnebago County, Illinois (2007) plats the land of many nineteenth-century Winnebago County residents. The publisher's bookstore includes a free online surname index. FHL Book 977.331 E7b

Maps

Military

Civil War

Civil War service men from Winnebago County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Winnebago County.

Repositories

County Courthouse

County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Winnebago County are kept, see the Winnebago County Courthouse page.

Family History Center

Family History Centers (FHCs) are branches of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah (United States) and are located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources to assist you in the research and study of your genealogy.

You may search your address for a center near you on the FamilySearch site. The following center serves Winnebago County:

Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)

The Illinois Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD), managed by the Illinois State Archives, houses the archival records of local Illinois counties, townships, municipalities and school districts. The seven Regional Depositories are housed on state university campuses scattered throughout Illinois.

Public Libraries

Rockford Public Library215 N. Wyman St.Rockford, IL 61101Telephone: (815) 965-6731Their Local History Room includes materials for Winnebago county as well as neighboring counties.

Social Groups Online

Societies

Taxation

Vital Records

Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the Winnebago County Clerk while those recorded after 1916 are kept by the Illinois Department of Public Health with a copy to the County Clerk. Original divorce records are generally in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. Winnebago County uses an outside service to fulfill internet requests for copies of birth, marriage and death records. For more information, see the Winnebago County Clerk's web page for information on Ordering Copies.